New York City Guide – Sights You Must See

If I haven’t blabbed about it enough, you may know that I went to New York at the beginning of March. We were expecting it to be ice cold and snowing and we ended up getting there and it was the hottest week of the year. It started off chilly-ish and quickly burnt off to the extent that residents were walking around in tiny dresses and shorts with no tights and there I was in my fur lined coat and snood.

I had an AMAZING time. The city has so much charm. I think a large part of this was because it was so sunny which always puts everyone in a good mood. So I am very thankful we got to go off-peak season and experience it too. I’ve put a few of my pictures together in this post on places you must visit or stop by and have a look at whilst you are in the city.

Times Square – Day and Night

The ultimate tourist trap. I wouldn’t really recommend eating around here as it’s very expensive but aside from that it’s a must see. Always completely packed with people but has quite a cool atmosphere. With street performers and flashing lights, you really get the feel of the hustle and bustle of NYC here. (I’ll also add there are about 3 Sephora’s in the surrounding area)

The Flatiron Building

This wedge shaped building is so interesting to look at. It’s also where the headquarters of the “Daily Bugle” are based in the Spiderman films. The building has been called one of the world’s most iconic skyscrapers so it’s definitely worth a look if you are in the area. The building is in a block made up of Fifth Avenue, Broadway and East 22nd Street.

Ground Zero Memorial Fountains and One World Trade Center

The memorial’s twin pools here are the largest manmade waterfalls in North America to commemorate the lives lost in the terror attacks in 2001. This area is very peaceful and is definitely a fitting tribute to those who lost their life. White roses are also placed in the names of the victims who have a birthday on that particular day.

The new One World Trade Center building is the main building in the rebuilt complex and the 6th tallest skyscraper in the world.

The Empire State Building

A New York staple not to be missed. You get amazing views of Manhattan from the Empire State. It was so windy up there so be warned! But worth it to be able to see the city on a lovely sunny day.

Grand Central Station

As a Gossip Girl geek I had to visit Grand Central. The clue is in the name as it is very grand and unlike any of the train stations we have here in the UK. The thing that made me laugh about this is that there is an Apple Store bang splat in the middle of it.

St Patrick’s Cathedral

A Neo-Gothic style Cathedral located very close to the Rockefeller Center. It’s stunning inside and contains many beautiful stained glass windows. You can light a candle to commemorate a loved one or simply have a look round at the decor. Well worth a visit.

The Rockefeller Center and Radio City

Take a trip to the Top of Rock and see the unrivalled views or simply have a walk around the Center. There was an ice rink whilst we were there, lots of restaurants and shops to browse. Radio City is also an iconic site you have to stop by and take a look at.

The Brooklyn Bridge

For great views of the city make sure you cross the Brooklyn Bridge. There are lots of viewing platforms to stop and take pictures of the city and once you get to the other side you should probably check out the rainbow bagel store in Brooklyn.

The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

We got a ferry to Liberty Island which went on a circuit round. Battery Park > Liberty Island > Ellis Island > Battery Park, although you have to pay more to get closer access to the statue and go up to the crown. Our ticket was about $18 and it gave us good views of the statue and the city.

Central Park and Trump Tower

There are so many huge rocks in Central Park that I tried oh-so elegantly to climb. However I usually ended up falling down. It’s such a pretty park and I can imagine in the summer it looks epic.

Trump Tower was another stop we felt we had to see. We went inside the building and everything is Trump themed, from the Trump Gift Store, to “The Trump Ice Cream Parlour” – worth a visit for the laugh alone.